22

Katarina’s POV
Alpha Dominic reappeared almost immediately after Leona left. His presence, as commanding as ever, filled the room. After much convincing, he finally unhooked me from the hospital equipment by my bed, agreeing that we both needed to eat. I knew he wasn’t going to leave me alone anytime soon, so it wasn’t a shock when he followed me downstairs to the kitchen.
He started gathering ingredients, clearly intending to cook us a meal. But I stopped him.
“Dominic,” I called softly, placing a hand on his arm without thinking. The contact made him pause, and though he hid his surprise well, I could feel it radiating from him. The familiar sparks tingled up my hand, bringing a calming effect that I almost sighed into.
“Hm?” he responded, turning to look at me, his silver eyes locking onto mine. The closeness between us made me acutely aware of the warmth radiating from his body. His scent- a blend of sandalwood and citrus-was intoxicating.
“Let me cook this time,” I insisted, frowning slightly as I saw the reluctance in his eyes. The tension in the air was almost palpable.
“I’ll handle it,” he replied, already setting out the ingredients as though he hadn’t heard me.
“Dominic,” I grumbled, moving between him and the counter, determined not to back down. His eyes darkened, narrowing as he looked down at me. My heart pounded in my chest, but I could tell he was just as stubborn as I was. I knew he wanted to take care of me, but this time, he was the one who needed care.
Taking a deep breath, I placed a hand against his chest and pushed lightly. The pout on my lips deepened when he didn’t budge.
“You saved my life,” I began, my voice firm. “But have you noticed how exhausted you are? You’ve been taking care of me; now let me return the favor.” I looked into his dark eyes, doing my best to keep my thoughts, especially Rose’s, shielded from him. She was purring at the fact that we were touching our mate, nudging me to seek comfort in his arms-something I wasn’t ready for.
Dominic grimaced as he looked down at me, his eyes still swirling with darkness. He closed his eyes and took a few calming breaths before responding.
“That’s not fair, little mate,” he muttered, stepping back slightly as the scent of peppermint filled the space between us. I could almost see the resistance in him shattering, like a thin sheet of ice cracking under pressure. It surprised me how easily I had swayed him.
Reluctantly, Dominic sat down on one of the stools at the kitchen island, his silver eyes following my every move. I could feel a mixture of caution and longing emanating from him, making me a bit self-conscious as I began to prepare dinner.
As I worked silently, I couldn’t help but worry about messing up. Cooking wasn’t my strong suit, and I racked my brain for every tip my mother had ever given me, praying that I wouldn’t ruin the meal.
“Don’t forget to put water in the pot,” Dominic’s voice broke the silence, his tone light as he watched me.
“Crap,” I muttered, realizing I had completely forgotten to add water to the pasta. His amusement made me grimace.
“Katarina…” His voice held a note of unease, causing me to turn and look at him in confusion.
“What-” My question was cut off by a loud pop. I spun around just in time to see the pasta sauce explode from the pan, splattering across the wall behind the stove. A startled gasp escaped me as I quickly moved the pot off the heat, placing it on the counter.
I shot a glare at Dominic, who was now struggling to suppress a smirk. He stood, clearly intending to help, but I pointed a spoon at his chest and gave him my best death glare.
“Sit down,” I ordered, trying to sound intimidating, though I probably resembled an annoyed puppy more than anything. My face burned with embarrassment, matching the red sauce now splattered across the kitchen.
With his hands raised in surrender and that infuriating smirk still on his face, Dominic lowered himself back onto the stool, watching me with silent amusement.
“You weren’t kidding when you said you couldn’t cook,” he remarked, his voice dripping with amusement. I shot him an incredulous look, feeling my frustration grow.
“You think you’re funny?” I huffed, glaring at him as I tried to salvage the meal.
“You are, however, very fierce,” Dominic added, his smirk widening as he seemed to read my mind, his eyes lingering on my flushed cheeks.
Muttering under my breath about cocky Alphas, I focused on the nearly impossible task of finishing dinner. I couldn’t understand how cooking was supposed to be a stress reliever-it was stressing me out more than anything. Yet, some part of me wanted to impress Dominic, to show him that I could take care of him, too.
When we finally sat down to eat, the silence between us was thick with unspoken tension. I kept my eyes glued to his expression, trying to gauge his reaction to the food. But Dominic, ever the expert at hiding his emotions, revealed nothing.
“Is there a reason you’re staring at me, little mate?” he asked, his lips curling into a smirk as he caught me staring. My cheeks flushed, and I quickly looked away.
“Is it any good?” I asked, my frown deepening as I glanced between his plate and his amused face. His silver eyes seemed to glow, so bright and pure that they almost looked ethereal.
“Mm, it’s good,” Alpha Dominic remarked, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips. My gaze locked onto his pink lips, curiosity sparking in me as I wondered how he would look if he ever fully smiled. My heart was already racing from just his silver eyes and that teasing smirk-could I even handle seeing him with a full smile?
The pasta I had made was a bit on the hard side, slightly chewy. I couldn’t help but wonder if I had messed up somewhere along the way or if Dominic was just being kind to spare my feelings.
Once dinner was over, we headed back upstairs to the room where I had first woken up. Acting more on impulse than thought, I made my way into the bathroom, aware of Dominic’s gaze on my back as I rifled through the bathroom closet. When I found what I was looking for, a small box of essential oils, I couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.
Dominic’s curiosity was palpable as I turned on the bathtub and let the water fill up. I stifled a giggle as I selected sandalwood and citrus essential oils, carefully adding them to the hot bath. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting my sense of smell guide me to get the perfect balance of the two scents.
When I finally finished, I turned to find Dominic leaning casually against the doorframe, watching me intently.
“Are you planning on inviting me to share the bath with you?” His lips curved into a smirk, and his eyes darkened with something that sent a shiver down my spine. Wolves were notorious for their strong desires, and it seemed Dominic and his wolf were usually in agreement.
“No,” I blurted out, blushing furiously. “The bath is for you. So, go ahead and get in.” I reached out and took hold of his forearm, guiding him to the bathtub. I was surprised when he allowed me to lead him without resistance, even though I was practically ordering an Alpha around.
“I will, on one condition,” he smirked, causing my heart to skip a beat. “Stay in here with me.”
“But… you’ll be-” My voice faltered as I trailed off, knowing he’d understand exactly what I was implying. The memories and emotions that had been tormenting me still lingered in my mind, yet somehow, I felt unusually relaxed. The mark on my neck was a burden, but it also brought a sense of calm and safety.
“Naked. I don’t mind, little mate. You can always turn your head if you must,” Dominic teased, gently tugging a strand of my hair. His dark eyes met mine, and I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to join him.
“Fine,” I finally gasped, plopping down on a cushioned bench by the sink. Without warning, Dominic began to undress. I let out a startled squeak, quickly covering my eyes as he chuckled quietly.
“You can look now, little mate,” his amused voice called out. I cautiously peeked through my fingers to find him fully submerged in the tub. From where I was sitting, his lower body was hidden from view-not that I was trying to look.
His upper body, however, was on full display. My eyes traced over his tattoos, traveling down his muscular chest to his defined abs. Rose, my wolf, purred at the sight of our mate. Although she didn’t push me to act, I could feel her strong desire to strip down and join him.
As usual, when I did something that tempted him and his wolf, Dominic’s silver eyes darkened as he watched me practically devour him with my gaze. I could feel the temptation, sweet as honey, lingering on my tongue. I had to admire his restraint; I wasn’t sure I could hold Rose back if her pull was as strong as Rose’s.
Dominic had his arms stretched out, resting on the edge of the Jacuzzi-like bathtub. “This smells good. What did you use?” he asked, his eyes occasionally flicking to me, making me feel both self-conscious and tempted. Rose relished the idea of our mate’s eyes darkening with lust and longing, knowing that both he and his wolf were equally tempted.
“Sandalwood and citrus,” I murmured, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. “It’s your scent,” I added softly, avoiding his piercing gaze.
“Vanilla and light cinnamon,” Dominic replied, his voice soft as he looked at me with an emotion that felt too strong to name, something I wasn’t ready to face or understand.
Once Dominic was dressed again, we made our way back to the bedroom. Despite his earlier teasing, I kept my head turned as he pulled on a clean shirt and loose shorts.
“No,” I said firmly when I saw him attempting to lie on the couch. “You’re sleeping in the bed.”
He raised an eyebrow at me, a deep smirk forming on his face as the darkness in his eyes swirled. I was sure his wolf was putting all sorts of thoughts in his head.
“I’m sleeping on the couch,” I insisted, crossing my arms over my chest. Too late, I realized that crossing my arms only served to push my breasts up, especially since I was wearing a white tank top without a bra.
“I’ll sleep in the bed if you do too,” Dominic bargained, his smirk widening. “But you might want to change your shirt-no man could resist that.” His eyes flicked down to my chest before meeting my flustered gaze again.
“Fine,” I grumbled, finally giving in to Rose’s pleading. I pulled a simple black t-shirt from the closet and slipped it on before crawling into the bed.
Dominic’s warmth enveloped me as he slid under the blanket on the opposite side. “Stay on your side and keep your hands to yourself,” I muttered, ignoring his deep chuckle.
I was surprised at how tired I felt. After being unconscious for a week, I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep anytime soon. But the moment my head hit the pillow, and Dominic’s comforting scent filled my senses, I was out like a light.
Sleeping next to Dominic brought a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in a long time. For once, nightmares didn’t invade my dreams.
When I woke up, I couldn’t help but notice that Dominic was still fast asleep. I argued with myself for a moment, aware of Rose’s approval of what I was about to do.
I gazed at Dominic’s strong features-his full eyebrows, his soft pink lips. He looked peaceful, free of the usual tension and stress. I took a mental snapshot of his flawless face, unable to resist the urge to touch him while I had the chance.
My fingers twitched toward him, and I gently traced his forehead, down over his eyebrows, and along his temple. His cheek was rough with stubble, but the texture was oddly satisfying under my fingertips.
The usual anti-mate thoughts tried to surface, but I was too captivated by Dominic’s face to care. My hand trembled as I brushed my fingers lightly over his lips, marveling at how soft they were. Rose let out a possessive growl in the back of my mind.
My heart nearly stopped when Dominic shifted slightly, my fingers freezing on his lower lip. I held my breath until his breathing returned to normal, then released a sigh of relief.
Slowly, I trailed my fingers down his strong jaw, knowing it was a bad idea but unable to resist the temptation. The sparks that tingled up my fingers were comforting, and I hesitated only briefly before letting my hand slide to the most sensitive spot on his neck.
I hesitated as my fingers hovered over the most sensitive spot on his neck, but it was as if my control had slipped away entirely. Rose’s desires blended seamlessly with my own, urging and enticing me to continue. Slowly, I traced my fingers to the precise location on his neck, and Rose let out a contented purr.
This was the ideal spot for our mark.
A rough hand shot out, grabbing my wrist and pulling it away from the tempting softness of his skin. Dominic’s face was just inches from mine, silver eyes swirling with dark flecks that held my gaze.
“What do you think you’re doing, little mate?” His voice, roughened by sleep, only intensified the strong desire churning in my gut. My breath caught in my throat, and my eyes flickered back to that sensitive spot on his neck. Rose was elated at how things had turned out, while I silently scolded myself for being so reckless.
“Katarina,” he growled softly, the sound forcing my eyes up to meet his now fully black ones.
“S-Sorry,” I stammered, the word slipping from my lips more like a question than an apology. My cheeks flushed with the embarrassment of being caught, but the butterflies in my stomach told a different story. His hungry growl confirmed he knew I wasn’t sorry at all.
I could sense his wolf battling for control, their mutual desire for me and the mark swirling around us. Even though I was beginning to accept Dominic as my mate, I still wanted to take things slow. The tension in the room was thick and sweet, making me wonder how much longer I could resist.
“If anyone else had touched me there, they wouldn’t be alive,” Dominic grumbled as he released my wrist and laid back down. His darkened eyes never left mine.
I didn’t linger, using the excuse of needing food to escape the longing that filled me. The week passed by quickly, and I soon settled into a routine. Dominic insisted I attend therapy daily, and for once, I didn’t argue. I could tell he genuinely wanted what was best for me.
Dominic hadn’t told me what was going on, and I hadn’t asked. I knew he would tell me in time, but for now, I needed to focus on getting better. The nightmares were worse without Dominic in bed beside me, but I managed them as best as I could. The first time they struck, Dominic broke down the bedroom door, claws extended, his sleepy eyes scanning for threats. After the third time, he didn’t burst through the door anymore. Instead, I heard his footsteps stopping at my door, sensing his indecision, his determination to let me make the first move.